Camping is one of the best outdoor activities you can try. Besides the fact that camping can reduce stress and increase physical fitness if you’re travelling with family, it can help build relationships and connect with nature. However, for camping to be stress-free and enjoyable, you need to bring all necessities and plan what needs to be done once you arrive at the spot.
Camping might be uncomfortable at first, especially for kids who are used to the comfort of their own homes. Therefore, you must talk with them beforehand and thoroughly explain where you’re going and what you will do there. That’s because kids might not be used to the sound of certain birds or animals and are also curious to touch everything, so you need to be prepared to ensure they’re always clean.
At the same time, you need to be careful with the surroundings and avoid poisonous bugs and drink water that isn’t clean. So, to make the most out of your trip, here’s our selection of obligatory supplies.
Sanitary tools
Playing outside greatly benefits a child’s health. Breathing clean air and running around or exploring can help them maintain good health. On the other hand, what’s truly special about spending time in nature is the fact that it helps build confidence by experimenting with ideas. They can learn more about their surroundings as they explore every plant, leaf, flower or tree.
However, when camping, harmful microorganisms, bacteria and germs can be challenging to tackle when your kid is touching everything. Therefore, you can help them be clean with some of the following tools:
- A hygiene kit that includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and shampoo in travel-size packaging;
- Hand sanitizers, gloves, wet wipes and other items for cleaning hands;
- Clean socks and underwear, as well as night-time clothing and clothes for changing when needed;
For keeping everyone clean, a portable shower is best to ensure proper washing, and some options also have a portable heater. However, in extreme cases, using baby wipes is the best solution.
Items for activities
There’s nothing worse than travelling with a bored kid. They will want to play or do something to consume their energy, and you can’t just let them watch YouTube on their phones because this is not why you’ve taken them on this journey. However, you don’t need to get expensive things to keep them entertained. You can even allow them to take something like a stick from a free and let them roam around the camp. For safer options, you can get a butterfly net so they can capture bugs or allow them to get silly.
Just make sure your car can handle all these accessories and be wary of where you park it. Although some camping sites have such spots for travelers, sometimes it’s best to leave the car in a safe place. For example, you can look for airport parking.
Nutritious foods
Regardless of how much time you intend on spending in the camp, you still need to eat nutritious foods and drink enough water to ensure everyone has enough power for the whole trip. Remember that you’ll do a lot of physical activity these days, and everyone will consume a lot of energy, so you need to replenish it.
Look for unprocessed foods, pack healthy snacks and try to cook some hot meals as much as you can. You may even include your kids in the cooking process to keep them entertained, but it’s better than letting them get bored of the trip. Some examples of what you can pack include the following:
- Dried oatmeal packets;
- Peanut butter pouches;
- Protein powder;
- Dried fruits;
- Pumpkin or sunflower seeds;
- Granola or energy bars;
- Dark chocolate;
Luckily, if you’re parked around institutions, you’ll have varied meal options around airport parking Sydney spots.
Campsite essentials
Ensuring you have everything you need at the campsite will make your travel stress-free. These items will make your camping trip cosy and more enjoyable, so put these products on your shopping list:
- Tent with footprint and stakes;
- Sleeping bags and pads;
- Camping pillows;
- Camp chair and table;
- Headlamps, flashlights and lanterns with extra batteries;
- Multi-tool and other repairing items;
- Stove, fuel and a fire starter;
- Cooking and eating utensils;
Depending on how remote your campsite is, you might need portable power, navigation tools and binoculars. However, know that cluttering the vehicle with unnecessary things might make your trip more difficult, so research the area thoroughly before.
If you want to leave the place neat, you can purchase biodegradable soap, recycling bags and urinary products. Given that many people throw away their plastic packaging and other waste around campsites, it would be best not to do the same and take care of your surroundings.
Beware of the insects
A less pleasant thing about camping is that you may encounter certain insects. Although not all are harmful, they might carry germs and other diseases you should avoid by using insect repellent and deflector. A good tip is to avoid camping around water because, at least during the summer season, dragonflies, mosquitoes and mayflies are roaming around. Some EPA-approved products help reduce the chances of mosquito biting, while dragonflies are harmless, but you should be able to recognize them.
However, you need to be wary of some insects. For example, water bugs live in ponds and lakes and are known to bite their prey and then inject poison to help break down the catch. Oftentimes, they appear to be dead, but this is the bug’s tactic to fool other insects or creatures so they can strike unexpectedly.
Bottom line
Camping with family is one of the most beautiful activities, especially when the weather is warmer. However, it can also be quite stressful because all family members might want to do something different or eat certain foods, and your kids might get bored. But this shouldn’t discourage you as parents because if you’re able to provide everyone with the necessities, the trip will be a success.
